Girls Basketball Preview

Wednesday

Dec 2, 2009 at 10:04 AM

Hardeeville is hungryÂ for a state titleÂ Â

Hardeeville HighCoach: Greg Cox (2nd season)Last year's record: 23-4Postseason showing: SCHSL Class A Lower State champs, lost in state championship game.Top veterans: Shantis Lee, 5-5, Sr., G; Shantireya Rivers, 5-2, Sr., G; Jomanda Smalls, 5-9, Sr., F; Danielle Waiters, 5-9, Sr., F; Krisinda Webber, 5-3, Sr., G; Shayla Williams, 6-0, Sr., F/C; Crystal Bonaparte, 5-6, Jr., G; Kaneisha Staten, 5-1, Jr., G; Latisha Webber, 5-2, Jr., GKey newcomers: Belinda Morales, Jr.; Courtney Staten, Sr.; Evin Percival, Sr.Outlook: You can't fault Cox if he might have high expectations for his team this season.Cox's Hurricanes will return the majority of last season's team that advanced to the state championship game after securing a Lower State SCHSL Class A title.The senior-heavy Hurricanes will look to make another run at a title behind Lee, Rivers, Smalls and Williams - all of whom played significant roles on last year's squad that at one point won 17 straight games.The uncertainty right now revolves around the team's fifth starter. Cox said it will be split between Waiters and Percival depending upon the opposition."The chemistry isn't there yet and that's where the problems are popping up," Cox said. "Each one adds a little something different so it's a good combination with both. But they need to develop that chemistry that comes with time."Waiters, Cox says, is quick and more aggressive on defense, while Percival provides power underneath and on the boards.With the return and development of Smalls, the region's reigning player of the year, the team should make up for lost scoring that it loses with departing senior Amber Johnson.In fact, in two wins of a Georgia vs. South Carolina preseason tournament, held at North Augusta High School, Lee and Smalls combined to score 71 of the team's 107 total points. Rivers added 19 of her own in a win against Class AAA Midland Valley."This year, I want to move her around a lot," Cox said of Smalls. "I learned from the state championship game that I need to get her more involved. If she's not at the point, she'll probably be playing forward."But if a team decides to play us man-to-man, you'll see a lot of her."

Ridgeland HighCoach: Frederick Toomer (8th season) Last year's record: 10-11Postseason showing: Lost in first round of SCHSL Class AA Lower State tournamentTop veterans: Cassandra Heyward, 5-0, Sr., G; Angelica Alston 5-10, Sr., C; Brittany Richardson, 5-10, Jr., C; Brianna Walker, 5-6, Jr., F; Brittany Ford, 5-7, Jr., F; April Jenkins, 5-6, So. G; Tonisha Roberts, 5-4, Jr., G; Key newcomers: Kala Brown 5-7, Sr., G; Matesha Stevenson, 5-0, So., G; Taletha Dopson, 5-6, So., G; Desiree Lewis 6-0, So., COutlook: Last year, Lenisha Manigo was Ridgeland's offense. She handled the ball and looked to score inside. Manigo's graduated and the Jaguars should have more balance. Ridgeland, which was 6-4 in Region 5-AA last season, is buoyed by Brown, a Hilton Head High transfer."This year's team will be more balanced offensively because every player will be expected to be a scoring threat when the ball is in their hands," Toomer wrote in an e-mail. "Last year her teammates deferred to Manigo more so than the offense actually running through her, but with her absence everyone naturally will have to contribute more."Ridgeland has not advanced past the first round since 2007, but have made seven straight playoff appearances."The team must be excellent defenders in order to succeed," Toomer wrote. "If we only muster 20 points per game we would still win if we could keep opponents to less than or equal to 19 points per game. But since good defense generates offense, we expect that if we defend well we could also score more points."

Thomas HeywardCoach: Bob Layman (2nd season) Last year's record: 4-21Postseason showing: None Top veterans: Ashlie Layman, 5-9, So., F; Brianna Kelnhofer, 5-6, So., G; Andrea Daring, 5-9, So., F; Brielle Jungblut, 5-5, Fr., G; Jamie Malphrus, 5-9, Fr., G Key newcomers: Caitlyn Cooler, 5-7, So., G; Haley Davis, 5-6, So., F; Kayla Canavan, 5-9, So., F; Taylor Ernestine, 5-6, Fr., GOutlook: Coach Layman has a distinct goal: "I want to make the state tournament."State tournament? With a team that has no upperclassmen and won four games last season and was 0-12 in Region 4? "We are pretty confident," Bob Layman said There are reasons for the Rebels' confidence. They won last week's Coca-Cola Classic at home and were 4-0 at the beginning of this week.But wins and losses are just part of it. The influx of Beaufort Academy transfers Cooler, Canavan and Ernestine, plus a more cohesive unit that worked hard during the summer to get better has the team believing it can compete.The region might be tougher than last year but Coach Layman thinks the team can definitely compete for a playoff berth."We are not scared to play anybody this year," he said.All nine players see plenty of minutes, including starters Ernestine, Jungblut, Cooler and Ashlie Layman.Canavan, Malphrus and Daring are competing for the center spot. Coach Layman said Daring, "has been spectacular defensively."Thomas Heyward runs a flex offense and the quickness of Ernestine and Jungblut allows Thomas Heyward to push the ball on offense.Coach Layman said Ernestine, the point guard, sees the floor well. Cooler is a strong outside shooter. Jungblut has developed a good medium-range jumper.Thomas Heyward has three players scoring in double digits.Defensively, the Rebels run a Triangle-and-2. Bob Layman believes pressuring the opposition leads to plenty of turnovers.During the summer the Rebels went to a camp at Georgia Southern University and they competed and won their games in a league with Calhoun Academy, Laurence Manning and Colleton Prep.Confidence and cohesion have been building since then ("We took the next step," Bob Layman said), and Thomas Heyward expects to continue to get better.

Abundant Life won't have chance to defend its title

Citing low roster numbers and two players with ankle and knee injuries, Abundant Life Academy decided last Monday to not play this season.The Cougars, led by second-year coach Sandy Hunt, were 15-4 last season and won the SCACS Class A state championship.Brittany Boyd (5-8, Sr., C) and Melanie Conley (5-1, So., G) were the team's returning players. Hunt expected to compete for another title even with a host of new players. "Coming in, knowing that we had a big season last year, I think they're ready to go give everything they have," she said last week. "That's all I can ask for."

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